Breaking Social Standards of Social Habits that could be Wrong

Breaking Social Standards

Image courtesy of Ambro

As soon as our understanding is somewhat developed and we begin to memorize all the things said around us, our parents start drilling certain lessons into our brains, most of which are for our safety and healthy development. These teachings make us who we are and teach us very valuable things. Yet, because of them, our decisions are shortened greatly in the future. Let me explain. When our parents give us these lessons, they are meant to let us know the difference between right and wrong. What ends up happening though is we all fall into a social standard.

            When our fathers and mothers tell us to not speak to strangers, they are trying to defend us from harm. But because of these words of advice, we grow up to be people that do not want to communicate or share with others. Many say that one thing does not have anything to do with the other but I completely disagree. Our childhood shapes us in all aspects. It is very rare that a distant event in our young adult life make any real change in the way we live. If it does make us see life differently it might have been very traumatic too.

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles

            Nevertheless, we need to hear this lesson. We have to understand that there is evil in the world and we cannot walk placidly and with peace in mind up to just anyone and strike a conversation. People can be great, amazing and sociable meanings but can also exhibit dangerous and mean behavior towards each other. We argue about many things and agree on little, sometimes only after great discussion and sharing of ideas.

            What if we worked harder in building up the confidence and trust in our society instead of paying for wars and battles? This generation is suffering a rather great deal from the constant stereotypes, racial profiling and false accusations. We are building our children to be afraid of that which is not known instead of curious about it. Why do our children run from the cops instead of admire their work and how they defend us? Why do they cower in fear when a stranger speaks to them instead of looking them straight in the eye and giving them an answer? With this advice I am not going against the wise words of caution from millions of parents all around the world. Instead, I am imploring they change some parts of it.

Image courtesy of nenetus

         The children need to socialize more with the neighbors, with the bystanders, and especially with the people that surround them daily. Everyone has a different story, a different point of view on this world and all the things that make them turn. So yes there is potential danger in someone you do not know, but there is also a potential friend. Kids that do not speak to people seclude themselves in phones and media so they do not have to keep eye contact now. Can you believe that? If I try saying hello to a child, the most likely action he or she will take is look down at their phone and blatantly ignore me. This does not even offend me but more often than not hurt me that our generation is so afraid of the world.

            As a kid I got the same advice from my parents as everyone else does. The only difference presented in theirs was that they asked me to be the judge of if to trust a person or not. This of course led me to trust many people, those of which highly deserved it and those that did not. But I learned, slowly and surely, what people could be and how to give them a chance to open up for me instead of immediately closing them out of sight and mind. The biggest course of action taken now is just ignoring everything and everyone. What good does that bring to us though? What benefits do we get when we ignore a smile and a wave, a person asking for help or someone in dire need of an ear that will hear?

People used to say good morning to each other. They used to share trivial news and small details of their lives with each other, always with a positive attitude and cheerful grin. What happened to those times? Why can we no longer speak without presuming anything about each other? Have we really given up in sharing with one another? Understanding one another? I really do not want to believe we have.

            I want to share a video I saw recently on YouTube with you guys. It’s a short little video about a man that sings on the highway. You may have seen it really. It may seem like something insignificant, maybe even annoying to some, but I want you to make some time to watch it, to see what happens in it. People begin singing and sharing a tiny moment of their days with each other and it is somewhat magical. Things like that, openness like that; we lack it and need it dearly. It carries a special message and it makes me feel like we can still all be like that, like we can unite and have fun over something simple.

              Our kids, everyone really, we need to learn to enjoy our company again. We are not all the same. We have distinct ideas and plans for the future, different likes and dislikes about the world and what surrounds us and we can all understand and see other people’s point of view. So yeah, the ideal of taking care of yourself in a world that has evil is still valid and helpful. We just have to add something onto that thought. As long as there is evil in this world, there is good, kind and gentleness. We have to venture into it carefully and search. If we never open up we will never find either thing, so we will be safe and alone. That is not how life should be.

            Sharing with other people, meeting and understanding them and laughing with them, it is all healthy and needed. Make sure you let the kids know that one stops being a stranger the moment they speak and share.

 Images courtesy of: FreeDigitalPhotos.net